The strain on the face of embattled Scotland manager Berti Vogts was only too apparent last night after watching his side crash to their latest defeat, this time a 2-0 loss at the hands of Austria.
First-half goals by Roland Kirchler and Mario Haas at Hampden Park led to the home side being booed off by a sparse 12,189 crowd - the fifth lowest attendance for an international at Hampden Park.
"I understand the boos because the team do not play well and we have to do more. More for the performance and more for the win - that is so disappointing for me," said Vogts, whose side next face New Zealand in Edinburgh on May 27th.
A workmanlike Austria team, two places below the Scots at 61st in the world rankings, could have won by more and Vogts was predictably criticised in the Scottish press this morning.
The Glasgow-based newspapers led the attack, just over a month before Scotland's next Euro 2004 qualifier against Germany at Hampden on June 7th. 'Scotland's pantomime show' said the broadsheet Heraldnewspaper, while the Daily Recordheadline boomed out "L-Aust cause - No fans No chances No future' and 'Good night Vienna'.
The Scotsmanalso added to the disparaging comments against Scotland with a headline: "Dire, dismal and desperate."
Vogts, of course, has visited this scene before when newspapers said he should be sacked after last September's 2-2 draw with the Faroe Islands in their opening Euro 2004 qualifier.
Bizarrely, the same critics labelled the German a saviour when his side beat Iceland 2-0 in Reykjavik in their next game.